Tag: NFL

NFL Week 9 Reaction

Miami Dolphins (6-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)

The Chiefs win a big game that could have important implications for home field in the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs don’t always look pretty but they keep finding a way to win. The Dolphins fall to 0-3 vs teams with winning records.

Washington Commanders (4-5) @ New England Patriots (2-7)

The Commanders stay alive in the playoff race and the Pats stay alive in the Caleb Williams sweepstakes.

Sam Howell looks like a potential franchise QB. He makes mistakes, but is basically still a rookie and has a spark to him.

Dallas Cowboys (5-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)

A very entertaining game where both teams nearly blew it. It ends with the better team winning.

Buffalo Bills (5-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)

The Bills and Bengals are in 3rd and 4th places, respectively, in their division but I still feel like they a better suited to make a playoff run then every other team in their division. The Bengals have been back to their usual selves and I think their good play continues. The Bills have struggled lately but I think will start to rattle off some wins too. They are both better than their record indicates.

Game/Betting Picks Results

Game: 4-0 (24-9 Overall)

Spread: 4-0 (25-8)

O/U: 1-3 (17-15-1)

NFL Week 8 Reaction

New England Patriots (2-6) @ Miami Dolphins (6-2)

Nothing that shocking here. The Dolphins are a better team and they showed it. It’s still a little bitter because the Pats had chances to stay in the game and didn’t execute. Tua is now 6-0 vs Bill, which is pretty wild.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-3)

As predicted, the Bengals were fully healthy coming off a bye and played their best game of the season. Both of these teams are great and I think both will finish out the rest of the season strong.

Betting Picks Results

Moneyline: 2-0 (20-9 Overall)

Spread: 1-1 (21-8)

O/U: 1-1 (16-12-1)

NFL Week 8 Preview

New England Patriots (2-5) @ Miami Dolphins (5-2)

The Pats are coming off a surprising win, while the Dolphins are looking to rebound after losing to the Eagles. The Pats historically do not play well in Miami and the Dolphins are the best they have looked in years. I think the Dolphins win, the Pats cover (+9.5), and the over (47) hits.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

This is the best game of the week, so I’m not sure how the NFL can justify the Bears-Chargers and Raiders-Lions games getting primetime slots over this one. Regardless, the 49ers have lost two close games they could’ve won, while dealing with injuries to key players. The Bengals have gotten healthier and started to look like themselves their past two games. They come off a bye week that came at the perfect time and are looking to get over .500. I think the refreshed Bengals win, cover (+5), and the under (43.5) hits.

NFL Week 7 Reaction

Buffalo Bills (4-3) @ New England Patriots (2-5)

Credit to Mac Jones and the Pats. They came out and played well versus a much better Bills team. And even after blowing a big lead, Mac led the team down the field in the clutch and made some huge throws. Congrats to Bill on 300.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)

The first half of this game was fun to watch and looked like it would be a shootout. In the second half, the Chiefs defense stepped up and the Chiefs showed they are still the top contenders in the AFC.

The Chargers season is on the line next week as they fall to 2-4 on the year.

Miami Dolphins (5-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (6-1)

The Eagles defense led the way to help Philly make their case as the best team in the league. Their jerseys were absolutely awesome too.

Betting Picks Results

Moneyline: 2-1 (18-9 Overall)

Spread: 1-2 (20-7)

O/U: 3-0 (15-11-1)

NFL Week 7 Predictions

Buffalo Bills (4-2) @ New England Patriots (1-5)

As overmatched as the Pats have looked vs the Bills in recent years, this Pats team is even worse. The Bills will win, cover (-8), and the over (40) hits.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)

A big game for a Chargers team that wants to get to .500 to get on track to make the playoffs. The Chiefs may be 5-1, but have not looked like their electric self on offense and have really relied on their defense to win games. I think the Chiefs win but the Chargers cover (+5.5) and the over hits (47.5).

Miami Dolphins (5-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

A high profile matchup between two 5-1 teams. I think the Dolphins have looked better this year, but that the Eagles are the better team overall and will make it further in the playoffs. I think the Eagles win, cover (-3), and the under hits (51.5).

NFL Week 6 Reaction

New England Patriots (1-5) @ Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)

Since last year, I have thought Bailey Zappe gives the Pats a better chance to win than Mac Jones. But the fact he was waived after the preseason, demoted to 3rd string today, and that Bill won’t play him despite Mac’s awful play means he’s probably not very good. All Pats fans can hope is that we get the number 1 pick. #RoadtoCalebWilliams

When the Pats go down just one possession, it feels like they are out of the game. And when they have a 3rd down longer than 5 yards, it seems impossible to get. It took them 19 minutes to get a first down and they had negative yards til the beginning of the 2nd quarter. All of this to tell you the Pats awf(ul)ense stinks. Not only is the play bad, but they are undisciplined with stupid penalties. The Pats first drive perfectly sums up their season:

  • 1st and 10: False Start
  • 1st and 15: Incomplete pass on a screen, had an ineligible man downfield, penalty was declined
  • 2nd and 15: Pass dropped by Rhamondre Stevenson
  • 3rd and 15: Run play (because Mac can’t throw more than 5 yards downfield)
  • 4th and 9: 34-yard punt to the opposing 40 yard line

It’s also hard to swallow that the Pats wouldn’t pay Jakobi Meyers 11 mil a year and 21 mil guaranteed over 3. He has more receiving yards than any Pats player this year despite missing a game.

The Pats easily could’ve won this game once Brian Hoyer came in at the start of the 2nd half. As any Pats fan can tell you, he isn’t very good- but still outplayed Mac Jones.

Dallas Cowboys (4-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)

A back and forth game ends with a Cowboys win. The Chargers had a chance to win if not for some inefficient red zone trips.

Betting Picks Results

Game: 2-0 (16-8 Overall)

Spread: 2-0 (19-5)

O/U: 1–1 (12-11-1)

NFL Week 6 Prediction

New England Patriots (1-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)

The Patriots come into the game fighting to not be the worst team in the league. The Raiders aren’t that good but have much more talent than the Pats. I think Belichick knows how to coach against Josh McDaniels and Jimmy G but that won’t help the Pats horrid offense. The Raiders will win, cover (+3), and the under will hit (41.5).

Dallas Cowboys (3-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)

The Cowboys flopped last week and now are looking to rebound. And with the Chargers coming off a bye, I think a lot of points will be scored. The Cowboys will win, cover (-2), and the over (50.5) will hit.

Rookie QB Strategy

Every time a team drafts a potential franchise QB, the fanbase is pumped up but often gets let down. The truth is, that a huge determinate of a QB’s success is where they end up. Even a guy like Andrew Luck, who was one of the best QB prospects ever, played great for the Colts but had his career shut down due to his front office not being able to protect him. Below is what I think teams should down before/after drafting their future QB.

First, they need to build the team around him. With few exceptions (i.e. Luck or Trevor Lawrence) you can’t just draft a QB onto an awful team and expect things to turn around. It’s much smarter to draft a QB onto a team that has pieces around him. Start with a solid O-Line that can protect him. Then you want 1 or 2 good to great playmakers he can get the ball to and make him look good. Finally, an, at minimum, average defense that won’t lose him games in which he’s played well enough to win.

QBs should play as soon as possible. If a QB isn’t remotely ready or you have a capable guy ahead of him, then I get it. But if he is the best option you have, why not play him and let him get experience? The first year might suck, but if they are going to be a future star, then it should make them better. Trevor Lawrence had Urban Meyer his first year and has still developed into a great QB.

There are 3 types of exits for QBs after you have drafted them. If after one year they show complete ineptitude and are a bad locker room guy, then its time to move on. After year 2, if they have not shown flashes that they can be great, then its time to move on. Finally, by the end of year 3, if they have not developed into a good QB, it is time to move on. Devoting more than 3 years to a guy who isn’t the answer is unwise. Especially because every current star QB who has been drafted the last 10 years, has shown his talent by the end of year 3.

NFL Week 5 Reaction

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) @ Buffalo Bills (3-2) (In London)

As I predicted, the Jags took advantage of having been in London all week. Both teams were sloppy, the Jags were just less sloppy.

New Orleans Saints (3-2) @ New England Patriots (1-4)

The Saints are not that good, the Patriots are just that bad.

Dallas Cowboys (3-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-0)

As predicted, the Cowboys once again flopped horribly after a great showing last week. This game makes it clear that in the NFC there are the 49ers and Eagles then everybody else.

Brock Purdy gives off Tom Brady vibes. Right now, all he has to do is be a great field general just like Brady was his first couple years. He is the perfect QB for this team as he can distribute the ball like a point guard to all the weapons they have. The 49ers are loaded on both sides of the ball and look like the best team in football.

Betting Picks Results

Game: 2-1 (14-8 overall)

Spread: 3-0 (17-5)

O/U: 3-0 (11-10-1)

NFL Week 5 Preview

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) @ Buffalo Bills (3-1) (In London)

A massive game in terms of AFC seeding. The Bills are probably the best team in the NFL right now and the Jags are starting to look more like themselves. The Jags have the huge advantage of having been in London all week and are more used to playing there than the Bills. I think the Bills win but do not cover (-5.5), and that the under (48.5) hits.

New Orleans Saints (2-2) @ New England Patriots (1-3)

The Saints roster is way more talented than the Pats, but Belichick is a much better coach than Dennis Allen. Both team played awful last week, but the Pats do not have any talent right now and are banged up. The Saints win, cover (+1), and the under (39) hits.

Dallas Cowboys (3-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-0)

The Cowboys are back to being in America’s good graces after killing the Pats last week. That, combined with the 49ers being a better and more physical team, is going to lead to a poor showing from Dallas. The 49ers will win, cover (-3.5), and the over (45) hits.

Odds via DraftKings